MANILA – For the first time in Philippine history, the bicameral conference committee deliberations on the 2026 General Appropriations Bill (GAB) were livestreamed to the public on December 14, 2025, at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC), offering unprecedented transparency into the reconciliation of Senate and House versions. The open session focused heavily on budgets for the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Department of Health’s (DOH) Medical Assistance to Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients (Maifip) Program, amid criticisms over potential shifts in priorities and unaddressed items like the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
The committee approved a P961.3-billion allocation for DepEd, a figure higher than the National Expenditure Program (NEP)’s P928.5 billion but below the Senate’s P987 billion. Key additions include:
- P22 billion for basic education facilities
- P13 billion for the school feeding program
- P8.3 billion for textbooks and instructional materials
- P3 billion for disaster preparedness and response
- P2 billion for learner support
This pushes the total education sector budget to a record P1.28 trillion, surpassing the international benchmark of 4% of GDP. The Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) received a P14-billion boost from the NEP’s P33 billion, including P12 billion to cover deficits in the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education law.
For health aid, the Maifip Program was increased to P51 billion from P42 billion in 2025, despite ongoing debates labeling it part of controversial social aid initiatives (alongside defunded programs like Akap, AICS, and Tupad).
Key Participants and Highlights
- Senate Side: Led by finance committee chair Sherwin Gatchalian.
- House Side: Appropriations committee chair Mikaela Suansing.
- Notable Query: Sen. Imee Marcos questioned the absence of DPWH budget discussions, scheduled for the next day with a proposed P598-billion allocation.
Criticisms surfaced over perceived realignments: Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste noted a P31.1-billion reduction from the Senate’s DepEd proposal and a P9.8-billion textbook cut, suggesting funds were freed for DPWH. Civil society groups like the People’s Budget Coalition (PBC) decried patronage elements (e.g., Tulong Dunong in state universities) and called for delays on 8,499 projects worth P144 billion for citizen monitoring. Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) raised alarms about potential insertions enabling corruption in infrastructure.
A P1-billion increase was approved for the University of the Philippines’ Project NOAH, tied to flood control collaboration with DPWH.
The livestreamed format—fulfilling President Marcos’ push for openness amid the flood control scandal—allows public scrutiny of amendments and legislator-specific allocations, with watchdogs demanding full disclosure.
As deliberations continue, the session marks a step toward accountable budgeting, though debates over priorities persist.
Budget Snapshot (Key Items Approved):
| Agency/Program | Approved 2026 Budget | Notes/Changes from NEP/Senate |
|---|---|---|
| DepEd | P961.3 billion | + from NEP; – from Senate |
| Education Sector Total | P1.28 trillion | Record high; >4% GDP |
| Maifip (DOH) | P51 billion | +P9B from 2025 |
| CHEd | +P14 billion boost | Covers tertiary access deficit |